Does biological relation matter when a non-parent seeks standing to apply for contact?

Biological relation is relevant, but it isn't the deciding factor, and it isn't required either. Courts assessing standing for a contact application care most about the actual relationship between the applicant and the child - how close and consistent it has been, and whether the child would genuinely benefit from continuing it - rather than whether the applicant is biologically related. A biological grandparent or aunt with little real relationship to the child doesn't automatically have a stronger case than a step-relative or family friend who has been consistently present and involved.

That said, biological relation can carry some practical weight: it often signals an ongoing, expected role in the child's life, and family ties can make it easier to establish the kind of relationship the court is looking for. But an applicant without any biological connection - a former stepparent or a long-term family friend, for example - can still meet the standing test if they show a genuine, parent-like or otherwise close relationship with the child. If you're considering this kind of application, focus your evidence on the actual quality and history of your relationship with the child rather than relying on the family connection alone.